Kolkata-based Sonthalia Group with interests in solar power generation, plastics & polymers, textiles and infrastructure development has proposed to set up a mega solar park in Odisha with a capacity of 600 Mw. For the proposed solar park, the Group has sought 1,250 hectares of contiguous, barren government land on long-term lease for 35 years. The site asked for should be preferably close to 220/440 KV pooling station for evacuation of power from the solar park. The Group intends to enter into a power purchase agreement with a state distribution company and also sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the project.

“The proposed mega solar park and SEZ will come up with an investment of around Rs 400 crore and will generate employment of around 1000 people and have a further potential of investment by the solar power developers as well as manufacturing units in SEZ will be around Rs 4000 crore and will further generate employment for 1000 people by upcoming investors from India and abroad,” Rajesh Kumar Sonthalia, managing director (solar division), Sonthalia Group said in a letter to Balwant Kumar, director (industries), Odisha government.

The proponent wants the state government to recommend the project to the central government- Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) under Union ministry of new & renewable energy for registering the project under Solar Park & Ultra Mega Solar Power Project Scheme, 2014. To create infrastructure for manufacturing of products and components required for solar power plants within the mega solar park, around 25 hectares land needs to be demarcated for the manufacturing units in the renewable energy sector and the same area be declared as sector specific SEZ (Special Economic Zone).